Today Jefferson Beauregard Sessions was confirmed by the US Senate Republican majority to be Attorney General of the United States. Sessions whose appointment to a federal judgeship had been opposed by Coretta Scott King (Martin Luther King Jr’s widow) in 1986 due to anti-Civil Rights activities in Alabama.

The day before Betsy DeVos, a woman with no formal training in education policy, work as a school teacher, or even attendee of of an American public school, became the Secretary of Education.

Both of these cabinet appointees of President Donald Trump were vociferously opposed by Democrats particularly the base of the Democratic Party. DeVos moreso than Sessions even.

But they were confirmed.

A colleague wondered what one should do since no matter what the Senate Democrats do, they will never get the votes to take down a Cabinet nominee, unless they break the Senate Republican lock. A Republican is in the White House. And the House of Representatives like the US Senate is Republican dominated.

To me it’s simple: organize.

Like President Obama said in his final address to the nation: “If something needs fixing, then lace up your shoes and do some organizing,” the President implored. “If you’re disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clip board, get some signatures, and run for office yourself.”

What did African Americans do when they were shut out of political power in the late 19th century until the mid 20th century? Organize.

Black people in most parts of the South, had no right to vote and because of that could not serve in juries and run for public office. They were virtually non existent in the political landscape bur through marches, rallies, and strategic political organizing and combined with media saavy, they created a movement that eventually brought a nation to realize it was time for legal equality of the races.

Women in the US in the 1st and Second wave movements of the women’s rights movement, fought for the women’s vote, a women’s right to choose an abortion legally, to attend more Universities and colleges, to have equal participation in school sports, a woman’s right to have their own credit without a husband co-signing even.

How did they do it? They organized.

LGBTQ Americans lived in the shadows until the 1970s and 1980s. They first fought for the right to be out and proud, won the right to marry who they love, and continue the fight to ensure housing and job discrimination is a thing of the past. How did they win their victories while in the minority? They organized.

It’s going to take everything we got. This isn’t a wait until election year type of time to get active. And there are plenty of ways to get active.

Donate to organization’s whose causes you support.

Host a fundraiser.

Get to now your Congressperson. Call their office about your concerns. Got to a townhall for your Member of Congress.

Attend a rally or a march on an issue you support. Plan a rally or a march on an issue you support.

Write Letters to the Editor or Op-Eds. Getting the message out is important.

And when the time comes vote. Register people to vote and get ten of your friends to vote.

Yes we’re going to lose some battles, but if we’re strategic we can win the war

I was excited on November 8, 2016 after I cast my vote for Hillary Clinton.

I realized the significance of the moment and unlike many women (mainly white) I knew who wanted to or were headed to place a “I Voted” Sticker on the grave of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, one of the promise white suffragists, I had gotten hold of an idea with my fellow women of color activists and politicos that we should find the graves of women of color who fought for suffrage and bring our “I Voted” Sticker to them.

Voting for a woman for President was significant, but we knew our rights to do that were there specifically because women of color had put their lives on the line for civil rights.

The initial thought was to organize a little group after Hillary on on Election Day and go.

Well that didn’t happen….. But the work of some of my (and the nation’s ) black foremothers should not be forgotten especially now as we look for inspiration.

Ida B WellsThere was Ida B Wells was an African-American journalist, newspaper editor, suffragist, and early leader in the Civil Rights Movement. She chronicled early lynching of blacks in the South and that it was used for controlling African Americans as opposed to punished as claimed by white Southerners at the time. She also developed and raised money for an anti-lynching campaign to criminalize lynching and became one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909. She was also a major leader in suffragist causes.

Mary Church TerrellMary Church Terrell, became one of the first African-American women to earn a college degree, and became known as a national activist for civil rights and suffrage. She founded the National Association of Colored Women which focused heavily on black women’s equality particularly suffrage she was a founding member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Sojourner TruthSojourner Truth,born into slavery, Truth became an African-American abolitionist and women’s rights activist. Truth escaped with her infant daughter to freedom in 1826. After going to court to recover her son, in 1828 she became the first black woman to win such a case against a white man. She went on to speak to be a leader in the abolitionist movement and at the Ohio Women’s Convenion in 1851 delivered her famous “Ain’t I A Woman” speech, discussing equality for all women, including black women

These aforementioned women are just a few who started the fight for freedom, equality, dignity, and a vote for black women. There are many more, some whose names are lost to history.

And then there are those who carried that struggle into the 20th century and payed the way in politics for other black women.

Fannie Lou Hamer, a voting rights activist at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, shewas instrumental in organizing Mississippi’s Freedom Summer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in 1964 that aimed to register as many black Southerners to vote as possible. (It was the same campaign which three civil rights workers disappeared and were killed by the Klan.)Hamer later became the vice-chair of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, in 1964, which was organized by fellow African Americans and whites from Mississippi to challenge the legitimacy of the regular Mississippi Democratic Party, which allowed participation only by whites, when African Americans made up 40% of the state population. Her speech before the credentials committee at the 1964 Democratic National Convention demanding more black people be seated was televised around the country.

Shirley ChisholmShirley Chisholm, In 1968, she became the first African American woman elected to the United States Congress and In 1972, she became the first black candidate for a major party’s nomination for President of the United States, and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination

Barbara Jordan she was the first African American elected to the Texas Senate after Reconstruction, the first Southern African-American woman elected to the United States

Barbara JordanHouse of Representatives. She was the first African-American woman to deliver a keynote address at a Democratic National Convention.

As a black woman who has been active in politics these women I consider my foremothers. Without them, there courage, and willingness to shake up the status quo and literally put their lives on the line, there would not be a paved the way for black women and women of color at large in politics.

I remembered this when I was elected the first black President of the Young Democrats of America, the nation largest partisan youth organization, in its 83 year history (and a youth arm of the Democratic Party).

I remember it now in these rough political times more than ever. What would they have done? How would they have done it?

For fellow black activists, let Black History Month serve as a refocusing and energizing point for the work ahead in the era of Trump.

Some may ask, why does these Academy Awards matter? Well I was reminded of a conversation recently I had in my teens.

Oprah Winfrey had produced “The Wedding” a story from the famous Harlem Renaissance writer, Dorothy West.

The story was about 3 generations of black Americans who spent their summers on Martha’s Vineyard. They were educated and successful.

I remember talking to a white classmate about it and I asked of the Sunday night movies (when that was still a thing on network television) was she going to watch. She said she wasn’t sure. I said how excited I was to see the wedding.

She looked at me and very innocently said “I thought it was interesting, but I didn’t think it was realistic”.

I blinked.

And went on to say something informed about how there are actually successful black people in American life pre-Jim Crow.

She was surprised, very innocently so, I remember almost like yesterday.

It’s that conversation I think of when there is an argument about why it’s so important to show a diversity of life in America on the screen.

For better or worse, film and television has always presented a window to the outside world to many societies, particularly America.

Films showcasing African Americans not living in the hood, with single mamas was few and far in between. And while it’s a part of African American life, it’s not the only story.

When even the new President of the United States, thinks and says the only existence black people live in the US is “hell”. You know the importance of stories of black people, all communities of color being told.

So when the annual nominations of the Oscars debuted Monday, I was thrilled.

Because finally, the Oscars bought themselves a clue. #OscarsSoWhite didn’t need to be dragged out again for the 3rd year in a row on Twitter.

These nominations were racially diverse the most it has ever been in the history of the Academy Awards.

Black cast led films, “Moonlight”, “Hidden Figures”, and “Fences”, nominated for Best Picture! 1/3 out of 10 nominees for Best Picture were movies highlight the lives and stories of African Americans.

This means three black producers also received nominations for making those movies happen: Denzel Washington, Kimberly Steward, & Pharrell Williams

Also African America Director, Barry Jenkins, was nominated for his direction of “Moonlight”. He will be only the 4th ever African American to be nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards.

Viola Davis made history by being the first black actress to be nominated by the Academy THREE times.

Joi Millon is the first black woman to be nominated for best film editing award with Moonlight.

Bradford Young was the first African America ever to be nominated for Best

Collage of Black Actors in various roles in film. Photograph: via the Guardian

Cinematography for “Arrival”.

Three black documentary filmmakers were nominated for their documentary films: “I am Not Your Negro”, “OJ: Made in America” and “13th” from the celebrated director Ava DuVernay of “Selma” fame.

While there was no woman nominated for “Best Director” even though a movie directed by a woman was nominated for Best Picture (Arrival). This was a much improved year for the Oscar nominations and the changes they instituted last year to diversify the Academy (finally) and make younger actors and creatives member of the Academy, clearly made the difference.

We are wealth, we are middle class, we are poor, we are recent immigrants, we are descendants of slaves, we are woven into every fabric of America.

It’s time stories of black people and other communities of color have their stories told on a large scale on screen and and get the support they deserve.

It’s the day after Inauguration Day, January 20, 2017 the day President-Elect Donald Trump became President Donald Trump.

Then today, Jan 21, millions of women around the globe put on their walking shoes and pussy hats, stashed their chargers and water bottles in their bags, to head to their area’s Women’s March to demonstrate against the Inauguration of President Trump, the loss of a viable Democratic woman nominee for President, and the anticipated roll back on women’s rights and other policies that benefit women.

The response has been astounding and heart swelling. The numbers are still rolling in, but in Washington DC an estimated 500,000, by city officials. The DC parade permit was only for 200,000 but the DC

Women’s March DC Photo credit via Ted Eyatan via Flickr CChomeland security chief expected more than that. For sure, it was so crowded, the March could not even in some sections actually even March it’s original route.

It was even bigger, especially in photo comparison, to the Inauguration of Donald Trump as President the day before.

In other cities Sister Marches were happening:

Los Angeles had 750,000 attendees to their Women’s March

NYC had 500,00 attendees to their Women’s March

Boston had an estimated 150,000 attendees March
And lest you think it was only on the coasts, there were marches in Chicago, Iowa City, Denver, St. Louis, Memphis, Nashville, and 673 other sister partner Marches in the US and around the globe.

There were even places you’d think they’d not even be able to muster up a march like Boise, Idaho; Louisville, KY; Nashville, TN; and Lubbock, Texas; Fargo North Dakota; and Fort Worth, Texas!

The pictures show between the lackluster attendance to Donald Trump’s Inauguration and the sizeable defiant and determined showing at the Women’s Marches the following day across the country President Trump and the GOP have no mandate to enact their agenda unilaterally, as they have pretended.

There has been this effort since the end of the 2016 election for the GOP to paint the Democrats as complete and utter losers. Not like we lost a match in a war loser, but that we lost 40-years-gonna-wander-in-the-woods loser.

Sure we lost the White House, on a technicality, called the electoral college.

However, the pollsters were right, Hillary Clinton was leading Donald Trump, 48 to 46% because that’s where the popular vote ended up.

(And NO, that’s not just because of California, it figures conservatives have to remove a state to make math work ).

Democrats gained six seats in the US House of Representatives in spite of a gerrymander not in their favor and a historical norm that dictates the the party that loses the White House also loses Congressional seats.

Democrats successfully reelected every Senate incumbent and even gained two seats.
Now I’m not saying the Democrats have work to do. We have plenty. We have lost Governor’s Mansions and state legislatures. But let’s be clear, there is a base there, a base that came out for the Women’s March, that refused to show up or even watch Trump’s Inauguration. The base that gave Clinton the largest win in the popular vote out of any candidate running for President before.

Conservatives had to go against party philosophy and align with evangelical conservatives in the 1980s to break the Democratic Party dominance of 40 years, when that wasn’t enough, once they were in control in states they used the gerrymander and when that wasn’t enough used voter suppression tactics like in Wisconsin and North Carolina (coincidently after crucial sections of the Voting Rights Act laws were gutted by the conservative side of the Supreme Court) and blatant racist and xenophobic rhetoric to energize enough angry folks to get Trump into office. That’s not a win for the long term and many conservatives, behind the scenes, when they are not yelling on cable news will admit it.

The GOP & President Trump have no mandate to govern, certainly not unilaterally. We’ve shown them. Let this guide you when you are down and believe there are more of them than us. Remind your elected officials in Congress of that non-mandate. Let this be the beginning of work that needs to get done in the four years to mobilize for the elections and policy defense to come.

So Taraji P. Henson earned her right to do the dance on the set of filming her TV show “Empire”.

“Hidden Figures”, a movie about the black women mathematicians who played a crucial role in getting the first men in the United States into space also starring Janelle Monae and Octavia Spencer, opened at no 1.

Not only did it open at No. 1 it beat a film in the juggernaut titan film series, Star Wars.’

And to top that, as of Monday morning this week “Hidden Figures” in its second week in a row in nationwide release, it beat all the other movies at the box office, specifically other Oscar bait vehicles out right now.

Why is that important? Because for a long time, even with the groundbreaking work in film by many actors of color before Taraji, Octavia and Janelle like Rita Moreno, Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, and Dorothy Dandridge, filmmakers have struggled to cast major actors of color in major movie roles with regularity because studio execs in Hollywood said films with actors of color in the lead can’t open films domestically and/or internationally. Washington Post does a great article here on some of the numbers

In other words, actors of color don’t produce the same financial win for studios that studio execs believe white actors have (unless your Will Smith or Denzel Washington or even Halle Berry who all worked hard for their bankability).

And money matters for studios, as much money goes into making a film, they like to usually see either a break even or a profit back. And yes arguably there are films, that lose money all the time with actors, if the actors/directors have a history of making more money on average with their films for the studio, they can be forgiven a flop.

Unfortunately this ends up putting actors & filmmakers of color between a rock and hard place. If an actor of color gets the big break and stars in ONE major film that was a flop, that’s it, it proves the theory of actors of color not being able to open films with a financial bang domestically and internationally. If a director of color or producer of color tries to get a great story with a cast of color in the lead made, and it doesn’t do well especially abroad, where Hollywood wants to continue expanding, Hollywood is wary of making those type of films or investing heavily in those directors or producers again. So it puts the onus on the communities of color in film to find a way to build a body of work that proves their bankable as much or more than films with that traditionally have white casts.

Examples of films where this happened: “Selma”, where Ava DuVernay was the 5th or 6th director picked after shopping the script around for a while for money and a director. “Lee Daniels’ The Butler ” had similar problems, even though Daniels had won praise and awards for films “Precious” and “Monster’s Ball” he still had trouble finding financing for it. Both films were box office successes both domestically and abroad.

Hollywood execs have had these attitudes in spite of a changing audience. According to the Motion Picture Association of America, people of color movie goers make up 44 percent of the nation’s most avid theatergoers, so it’s time for a change.

So yes: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monae, owe themselves a huge pat on the back, and a huge bottle of good champagne, because they broke the seal for actors of color and films with actors of color in the main roles.

And yes, go see “Hidden Figures”, it IS a FANTASTIC movie. It had a little bit of something for everyone, especially in these times, romance, comedy, history, and people striving to be better people to make history together.

Y’know in the era of a pending Trump Presidency you really can’t be prepared for all manner of foolishness that he says on Twitter.

John Lewis getting beaten by Alabama State Troopers in 1965 on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma while marching for voting rights for disenfranchised black Southerners. (Image via Library of Congress

In an interview with Meet the Press, Congressman & Civil Rights activist John Lewis (man pictured to your right in his 20s getting beaten by Alabama state troopers during a civil rights march) said he did not believe that President Elect Donald Trump was a legitimate President. For the record, Lewis who has served for over 30 years in Congress under many Presidential administrations, didn’t say Donald Trump wasn’t a legitimate President because he was a Republican. Lewis believes a hostile foreign power interfered in our elections to help Donald Trump get elected. This is an opinion backed up by the US intelligence community, that foreign actors hacked the DNC, the Clinton campaign, and other political entities to undermine and influence the election process in getting Donald Trump elected.

Point being, John Lewis didn’t pull this out of thin air.

President Elect Donald Trump who has zero self restraint fired back on Twitter.

1st Tweet: Donald Trump: “Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to..”

2nd Tweet: “mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results. All talk, talk, talk–no action or results. Sad!”
(Notice he fires back on twitter to like anyone BUT Vladimir Putin? I digress though).

1) Someone needs to tell Trump what bad OPTICS politically it is to go after of ALL people, John Lewis on the weekend of Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend.

2) All Talk and No Results? Rep John Lewis? Rephrase, Civil Rights ICON and Congressman John Lewis?

Let me count the ways of John Lewis’ “ACTION & RESULTS”:

A) John Lewis at 23 was the youngest speaker and one of the co-organizers of the 1963 March on Washington

B) At 23, John Lewis was the President of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). The national organization that was organizing young people to do sit-ins at segregated lunch counters. During his tenure SNCC

-and organized some of the voter registration efforts that led to the Selma to Montgomery march

C) John Lewis participated in much of the organizing work he led. He participated in Nashville city luncheon counter sit-ins…..

D) At age 19/20, John Lewis participated in the original Freedom Rides, organized bus trips that were integrated, and made stops through the segregated South. The goal was to desegregate public transportation. At a stop in Montgomery, Alabama, John Lewis was PULLED from the bus, and beaten unconscious with a wooden crate.

John Lewis Arrest Photos at Nashville Police Department after one of his sit-ins at luncheon counter (Image: via Nashville Police Department

E) At 25 while participating in the nonviolent march from Selma to Montgomery for voting rights for disenfranchised black southerners, John Lewis was gassed and beaten by a billy club.

F) He’s been arrested more than 40 times as a young Civil Rights activist, getting voting rights for disenfranchised Americans.

John Lewis after his service in the Civil Rights Movement continued to be a community leader leading up to his election as an Atlanta City Councilman. After that, Lewis elected to Congress where he has served honorably ever since.

John Lewis was working to Make America Great, since he was a teenager, President Elect Donald Trump just makes it a campaign slogan.

AND ANOTHER THING:

During his tenure as Congressman, Atlanta has risen to be a powerhouse of a Southern city. It is even called a “Black Mecca” wear black artists, musicians, and businessman have re-located because Atlanta is an amazing place of opportunity.

Atlanta’s rise to national acclaim as an international and national city is not entirely due to him of course, but John Lewis played a role.

Heck do you know how many TV shows are now shot in Atlanta, because Atlanta?! Ironically this tweet is day after the President Elect and Steve Harvey have a meeting about working on an “inner city initiative”. Oh really?

Meryl Streep, at the 4th International Rome Film Festival/Vincent Luigi Molino 2009

If you watched the Golden Globes on Sunday, or didn’t, you likely heard about Meryl Streep receiving the Cecil B DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is given to actors, directors, etc who’ve made great achievements in their career and in the world through their art. Meryl Streep won of the most award nominated actors in history and also one of the most popular greatly deserved her award. The fact she received the award wasn’t in and of itself significant, it was what she said in her “thank you” speech afterwards.

Meryl Streep used her “thank you” speech time to talk about the election of Donald Trump. She never said his name, but it was clear to everyone, to whom she was referring, especially when she said: “It was that moment when the person asking to sit in the most respected seat in our country imitated a disabled reporter, someone he outranked in privilege and power and the capacity to fight back.”

Streep also discussed contribution to film by immigrants and everyday Americans. She discussed the importance of empathy, a free and accountable media, and the privilege of the work the actors have to promote art and the stories of others. It was a well done speech and I think relevant tie in to being an actor and having a large platform. Streep said: ” An actor’s only job is to enter the lives of people who are different from us and let you feel what that feels like.”

Well not surprisingly soon to be President, Donald Trump clapped back at Meryl Streep on twitter calling her “over-rated”, various other conservatives gave the standard response of “who cares” what Hollywood says, at the National Review a conservative magazine, writer Katherine Timpf penned an opinion piece entitled: “The Golden Globes Are Why Donald Trump Is Not Going Anywhere“.

And over at Fox News, host Meghan McCain (yes Senator John McCain’s daughter) reiterated similar sentiment:

But conservatives are missing somethings by a mile here. 1) They assume that the majority of voting Americans voted for Trump, thereby granting Trump some cover to say the things he has, they didn’t. 2) They also assume they (conservatives and/or Trump supporters) are the only people being in their words “talked down to” or “lectured”. 3) They act like they don’t care what Hollywood thinks, when in reality yknow they do.

While conservatives like McCain and Timpf didn’t support Donald Trump in the Primary (and I believe the general), they claim in spite of what he said, Trump still got elected. True, but let’s be clear conservatives speak in terms as if he was elected by a massive mandate. Trump wasn’t

Yes Trump won the electoral vote and will be sworn in as President on January 20. However, if you look at the voter break down Trump’s was elected by only 26% of eligible American voters, 26% of other votes to Hillary Clinton and 46% of eligible voting Americans chose to not vote for either one for various reasons. That’s 72% of America’s eligible voters who didn’t cast a vote for Donald Trump. So we can at least ascertain most voters didn’t subscribe fully to Trump’s views enough to be motivated to vote for Donald Trump President. Indeed what made Trump so polarizing as a candidate to many voters (many who considered themselves conservative) where the offensive things he said about Mexicans, women, and yes mocking a person with a disability.

This leads me to my second point, conservatives are complaining about the “lecturing” and saying Americans are tired of it. Well again, saying that “Americans are tired of it” assumes the majority of Americans voted for Trump. They didn’t. And what makes you think many Americans aren’t tired of hearing their concerns dismissed about Trump and his administration?

Thousands around the country in major cities took to the streets to protest Trump’s Inauguration, not because he ran as a Republican but of the problematic statements he made during the 2016 Primary and General Election. He said Mexicans were rapists. He said he would consider a Muslim registry and at one point ban Muslims from immigrating to the US. Trump had 11 women come forward and accuse him of sexual assault. There was a tape of Presidential elect Donald Trump talking on a hot mic about grabbing women by the “pussy”. He mocked a reporter with a disability.

These are all attempts by many conservatives, to yes, gaslight the majority of American citizens. To say condescendingly with a pat on the head, “there is nothing to worry about”. Well many Americans are tired about that condescension, and flat out denial, especially when we see campaign rhetoric take shape already in proposed policy and Cabinet members. Trump’s rhetoric and the policies suggested from it affect many Americans lives. And just because a great actress like Meryl Streep with an amazing platform gives words to many Americans frustration and concern in a speech doesn’t mean just because she got a few dollars in the bank her opinion is any less relevant, or that she is not entitled to said opinion ( because Freedom of Speech) which leads me to my final point.

Conservatives need to stop acting like they don’t care what celebrity say about politics, because they clearly do.

Why?

1) The fact the Republican Party in the last 35 years has nominated two candidates for President who were celebrities, one being the GOP adored former movie actor Ronald Reagan, and the other? A TV reality star businessman née Donald Trump. (Yes clearly conservatives all can’t stand celebrities so much you saw fit to nominate two of them to the highest seat in the land). Democrats nominating movie starts or reality show folks for President? Zero

2) Republicans always are happy to have celebrities at GOP conventions and Inaugurations like Democrats. And they should be, celebrities, particularly movie or music celebs have a huge platform and can often add some glitz to otherwise dry events for non political junkies, which is most Americans. In 2001 George W. Bush had Ricky Martin and Jessica Simpson perform at his Inauguration at the apex of their musical careers as well as the boy band 98 degrees . Barbra Streisand actually sang at Bush I’s inauguration in the late 80s. Other celebrity actors and musicians who either spoke and/or performed at the GOP conventions in 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012 include but are not certainly limited to: Bo Derek, Bruce Willis, Ben Stein, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Ron Silver (West Wing Fame), Angie Harmon (Law & Order; Rizzoli & Isles), Jon Voight, Gretchen Wilson, John Rich, Kid Rock, Trace Adkins, Janine Turner, Jeff Bridges and who can forget Clinton Eastwood and the chair?

2016 GOP Convention could have and should have boasted many celebrities who support the GOP. Most of the aforementioned folks are a good place to start and there are others like Vince Vaughan, Sly Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger who are all big name respected celebs who are conservatives. Well the best the GOP could do this year for the 2016 convention was Scott Baio and Antonio Sabato Jr. to celebs who saw their hey days in the 1990s and nothing really since. And the 2017 Inaugural is even more abysmal with nearly nonexistent celebrity attendance either as performers or attendees.

And conservatives say “who cares?” And Trump defiantly says he’ll have “the people” at his inauguration and that’s what’s important. But let’s be real, you couldn’t even get conservative Hollywood and most musicians to come out to celebrate the Inauguration of Trump. This is looks even stranger when the GOP has Donald Trump as an incoming President who built his brand as a celebrity, guest starring as himself in TV shows, movies, and soaps, including building a reality show around celebrities. The majority of conservative celebratory silence IS their statement and many conservatives know it hence the much shrugging of shoulders about”Hollywood elites” who don’t support them. Rather than call attention to that fact, it’s much easier to demonize all celebrities.

That’s fine you can save face by dismissing celebrity attendance at your Inauguration or your Convention. But don’t try and play like you don’t care, because history dictates that’s not entirely the truth.

This is why conservatives get it wrong about Meryl Streep. Not only are they hypocritical in their vigorous attempts to convince us they don’t care about celebrity support, but that they don’t realize, Meryl gave voice to good plurality of Americans (and yes that even includes some conservatives) who agree that a Presidency built on openly othering so many Americans is a long term recipe to eventually legislate yourself into the minority.